Button-sewing machine



May 29, 1928.

R. L. LYONS BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed July G, 1925 4 Sheets-SheetI IWAWNN /Tl-lllllllllll May 29, 1928.

R. L. LYONS BUTTON SEWING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 29, 1928.

R. L. LYONS BUTTON SEWING- MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 6, 1925 n w m R. L. LYONS BUTTON SEWING MACHINE 4 SheeT-,s-Sheet Filed July 6, 1925 May 29, 1928.

P f mv kw @am X mw u QN ROBERT liatented May 29, 1928.

UNITED 4STATES PATENT OFFICE.

L. LYC-NS, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSGNOR TO FREDERICK OSANN COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BUTTON-SEWING MACHINE.

Application led. July 6, 1925. Serial No. 41,624.

This invention relates to button sewing machines in which the lines of stitching between different holesin the button are arranged from front to back of the machine so `that they extend substantially at rlght angles to the edgeof the goods. It relates more particularly to machines ot that type in which the needle is caused to vibrate laterally to move from one pair of holes to the other when four hole buttons are belng sewed.

The primary object of the. present invention is to provide a construction wherein the machine may be readily adjusted to sew either two hole or four hole buttons at will,

the adjustment for two hole buttons causing the needle to be moved to and retained ina central position laterally of the machlne 1n position to pass through the holes 1n the button. The button and the work in elther adjusted condition are vibrated back and forth to bring the needle holes of each pair successively into position in ahnement with the needle.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, together with further objects and advantageous details and com binations ot' parts, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine partly broken away."

Figure 2 is a front e-levation of the needle bar housing portion.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 ofFigure 1 showing the parts adjustcd to sew four hole buttons.

Figure 4 is an inverted plan of the machine.'

Figure 5 is a vertical section on line 5-5 of Figure 1. l

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3, but

' showing the parts adjusted to sew two hole buttons.

Figure 15 is a detail section illustrating the manner of blind stitching a button with the machine.

Figure 16 is an inverted plan-of a portion of the goods, the position of a two hole button and its blind attaching stitches being shown dotted.

Figure 17 is a detail section showing the relativ'e position of the work and button for sewing through the work.

As shown the machine comprises a pedestal portion 1 on which is carried a base` frame member 2. vOne end of this base frame member is extended beyond the pedestal as shown at 3 and houses certain of the sewing instrumentalities, such as the looper 4 and its driving shaft 5. Extending upwardly from the other endof the portion 2 is a hollow post 6 having a forwardly Vother pair of holes where a four hole button is to be sewcd. For this purpose it is shown as extending through a sleeve 10 which is pivoted on a fulcrum 11 adjacent to the upper end of the housing 8.

The needle bar is given its longitudinal motion through the sleeve 10 to effect its 'sewing and retractive strokesy through any suitable mechanism. As sho-wn, this mechanism comprises a rock shaft 12 having an arm 13 fixed at5its forward end, the outer end of this arm being connected throu h a link 14 pivoted thereto 4to a collar 15 xed to the needle bar. rocked by any suitable means such as a rocker arm 16 fixed thereto to which ispivoted the upper end of a connecting rod 17 having itsl lower end formed as an eccentric strap 18 surrounding an eccentric 19 fixed to the drive shaft 20. This drive shaft 20 is This rock shaft 12 is f provided with a worm 21 meshing with a worm wheel 22 fixed to a vertical shaft 23. This shaft 23 carries a camz24 at its lower end which acts to move the button and the work from frontvto back in the machine to Izcause stitches to pass alternately through leach of a pair of holes in the button. As

shown the cam 24 has a cam path 25 within which rides a follower 26 fixed to an arm 27. This arm 27 extends to a vertical Arock shaft 28 at the upper end of which is positioned a slotted link 29. A thumb screw 30 threaded onl a bolt 21 riding in the slot in the link 29 may be' adjusted in this slot in accordance with the extent of motion desired and transmits motion therefrom through a slide 32`to a 4cloth plate 33 on which the work to be sewn is supported. To the rear end of the slide 32 is pivoted at 35 an angle shaped yarm 36 the forward end of which is fixed to ton against the workand the work against the cloth plate by any suitable means, as herein shown a spring pressed plunger 40 resting on the upper face of the button clamp being used for this purpose.' The button clamp may be raised .as for the purpose of introducing or removing work from therebeneath, for this purpose a chain 41 being shown. The lower end of this chain is fixed to the button clampand its upper end to a rocker arm 43 which may carry an arm 44 to which the upper end of a rod 45 is pivoted, the lower end of this rod extending through a connection such as the chain 46 to a treadle (not shown) by depression of which the varm 44 maybe rocked, rocking` the arm 43 and raising the button clamp about its pivotal connection with the slide.

When four hole buttons are being sewed it is of course necessary to`cause the needle to pass through one pair of holes and then to pass through the other pair of holesI to lay a substantially equal number of stitches in each, before the machine stops, while when the machine is designed to sew two hole buttons there should .be no lateral motion of the needle relative to the work, but

vit should be centered with reference thereto since the ytwo holes in a two hole button are arranged along a diameter. Mechanism is provided by which the movement of the needle laterally may be effected where it is desired to sew four` hole buttons, and where this movement may be eliminated and the needle bar held in a central position in its lateral path of motion in position to ass through the pair of holes in a two hole utton. Atv the upper end of the verticalshaft 23 is positioned al cam 50 having a cam path 51 cut therein. The needle bar has a sleeve 52 through which it is slidable and this sleeve is lixed to the forward end of a twopart lever mechanism comprising a lever 55 and an arm 56 pivoted at 57 adjacent to the opposite end of the lever 55 from its attachment to the needle bar. This lever 55 is suitably fulcrumed and is arranged to be rocked to impart motion to the needle bar when motion is desired for sewing four hole buttons and to hold the needle bar in its central position when two hole buttons are lto be sewed.

As the space between the holes of the buttons varies with the changes in button siz'es, provision is made for adjusting the positlon of the fulcrum ofthe lever 55 in order to adjust its extent of throw at the end where it is attached to the needle bar. For this purpose the frame arrn7 is provided with a slot through which extends a bolt 60 from a slide 63 positioned within the frame portion 7, the bolt 60 having threaded on its outer extremity a thumb 'nut 64. Extending upwardly from this block 63 is a. fulcrum l bolt 65 which passes through a slot 66 longitudinally arranged in the lever 55. In the forward portion of the lever 55 is a pair of -slots 67 and 68. Through the slot 67 is extended the shank of a screw 70, the head of which extends over the upper face of the lever 55 and prevents it from being detached while permitting the lever to slide therebeneath. The slot 68 forms an opening through which the spring pressed plunger 40 extends, the slot being of suicient length to permit the desired extent of movement of the lever 55 about' its fulcrum 65. The arm 56 before referred to carries at its outer end a cam follower which rides in the cam groove 51 of the cam 50. If'now the opposite end of this arm 56 is free, the rotation of the cam 50 serves merely to oscillate the arm about its pivotal connection with the lever, the lever itself being unaffected thereframe portion 7 and having a stud 81 projecting through the slot inthe frame portion 7 and taking on its outer end -a thumb nutv 82. The slide 80 has a screw 83 threaded lll) therein, as shown best-in Figures 9 and 10,

this screw having a head 84 formed as a pin slot 66 to permit the vpin portion 84 to enter therein and when so positioned to hold the forward end of the arm 56 against vibration about its fulcruin 57 and to act as a fulcrum about which the arm may be rocked. The pin 84,is of a diameter substantially equal .to the slot 66 forwardly of its rearend at 86 which is of enlarged diameter. When the pin 84 rests in the notch 85, it also passes through the portion 86 of the slot 66 which registers with the notch, this portion'86 being of sufficiently larger size to permit the lever to be swung about its fulcrum when the notched end 85 of the arm 56 is held against bodily motion. lt will be seen, therefore, that the block` may be adjusted so that the pin 84 engages` in the notch 85 and holds the forward end of the nism is so adjusted it is in condition to sew. two hole buttons,r lateral rocking motion of the needle bar being prevented and the bar being brought into its central position So that the needle will pas-s through the two holes of the button arranged diametrically thereof.y The button and the work-holder are vibrated together lengthwise ofthe machine to cause successive strokes of the needle to pass through each of the pair of holes in f the button, the cam 24 being shown as effective for this purpose on both the button clamp and the work.

It will be seen thatU the adjustment from four hole buttons to vtwo hole buttons is effec'ted by merely loosening the thumb nut 82 and moving the slide 80, whereupon the nut is again tightened to fix the slide in adjusted' position.V and that when the adjustment is made to fix two hole'buttons in position, the lever controlling `the lateral position of the needle bar is moved to its central position so .that the' needleI will extend along the diametrical line of the button as it is illustrated in Figure 13, and that when the machine is adjusted to sew four hole buttons, the lever controlling the lateral position of the needle bar is guided laterally by the forward inclined edges 105 of the'arm 56 so that the needle bar is swung away from its central position in a direcnism,

tion to insure the placing of the stitches through one pair of holes of the four hole button, the action of the cam 50 thereafter moving the needle bar to position ythe stitches through the other pair of holes.

ln Figure 13 is shown the button clamp holding a two hole button,the forward position of the button clamp being shown in dotted lines. l v

ln Figure 14 a similar view showing a four hole button is presented, it being seen that each pair of holes is positioned laterally line of the button.

The cam groove 51 in the cam 50 may be cut as shown best in Figure 3 so that when one-half of the stitches has been positioned through one pair of holes of a four hole button, the needle bar is moved laterally to cause its succeeding strokes to pass the stitches through the other pair of holes on the opposite side diametrically of the center line of the button.

-Above the cam 24 and fixed to the shaft 23 is a collar having a projection 91 thereon positioned angularly relative thereto at such a point that when the cam 24 has completed one revolution, this projection contacts with a finger 92 carried by a rocking mechanism 93, pivoted on a vertical axis 94 which acts to rock a catch 95 out from behind alatch block 96, releasing the latch block and permitting a spring 97 to move a stop mechashown somewhat diagrammatically at 98, to shift a driving belt (not shown) from a fixed pulleyv 99 to a loosepulley 100 and to effect the stopping of the machine. Details of this stop motion are not herein shown as it may be of any suitable type, the stop motion indicated being that shown in the United States Letters Patent No. 1,544,025 dated June 30, 1925, of Harold W. Morris.4 i

One of the classes of work to which a machine of this type is particularly applicable is shown in Figures 15 and 16. Where the work and the button are moved from front to rear of the machine to pass the stitches lthrough the two holes of a pairin the button, the edge of the worlmay be doubledunder as shown at 101 in Figure 15 along the line at which the buttons are to be attached. The button may then be sewed thereto by the stitches 102 which fix the button in position without passing through the thickness of the goods so that when the work is unfolded, as shown in Figure 16, the button stitches are not visible on its back face.V Of course where the visibility of the stitches on the back face of the goods is of no consequence, the work may be put in unfolded, as shown in Figure 17, in which case the stitches will pass entirely through as,

shown in Figure 16 and show on the reverse side thereof.

of the longitudinal diametrical center lui).

lll

Having thus described an embodiment of this invention it will be evidentl to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a button sewing machine, sewing instrumentalities including a needle bar, means for holding a button and work in assembled relation and in operative relation to said instrumeiitalities, means :tor vibrating -said holding means and needle bar relatively to cause stitches to be passed successively through-both holes of a pair in a button carried by said holding means, means including a two-part lever mechanism for moving said holding means and needle bar relatively to cause stitches to be passed through both pairs-of holes of a four hole button, means for rocking one ot said parts, and means adjustable at will to operatively connect the parts of said lever mechanism to cause said moving means to'be etl'ective or to operative-` ly disconnect said moving parts whereby said-moving means is rendered inoperative, said adjustable means when in disconnecting position acting to hold one of said disconnected lever partsin iixed position.

2. In a button sewing machine, sewing in-- strumentalities including a needle bar,

i means for holding a button and work in assembled relation and in operative relation to said instrumentalities, means for vibrating said holding means and \needle barrelatively to cause stitches to be passed successively through both holes of a pair in a button carried by said holding means, means including a two-part lever mechanism for ber, means including a member for holding -a button and work in assembled relation and in operative relation to said instrumentalities, means for vibrating said members relatively to cause 'stitches to be passed successively through both holes of a pair in a button .carried by said holding means, and means for moving said members relatively laterally of their relative direction of vibraf tion to` cause stitches to be passed through both pairs of holes in a four y hole button,` `said moving means comprising a lever opy eratively connected to one of said members,

an arm pivoted'to said lever, means for rocking said arm, and a device movable from and to a position to cause rocking of 'said arm to rock said lever, said device acting to lock said lever against rocking when out of such position. V

4. In a button sewing machine, sewing instrumentalities including a needle bar member, means including a member for holding a button and work in assembled relation and in operative relation to said instrumentalities, means for vibrating said members relatively to cause stitches to be passed successively through both holes of a pair in a button carried `by said holding means, and

means for moving said members relatively.

laterally of their relative direction of vibration to cause stitches to be passed through both pairs of holes in a four hole button, said moving means comprising a lever operatively connected to one of said members, an arm pivoted to said lever, means for rocking said arm, and a device movable from and to a position to cause rocking ot' said arm to rock said lever, said device when out olf such position acting to hold said lever stationary.

5. In a strumentalities including a needle bar member, means including a member for holding a button and work in assembled relation and inoperative relation to said instrumentalities, means for vibrating said members relay tively to cause stitches to be passed succesbutton sewing machine, sewing int sivelythrough both holes of a pairin a button carried by said holding means, and means for moving said members relatively laterally of their relative direction of vibra-- tion to cause stitches to be passed through both pairs of holes in ya four hole button, said moving means comprising a lever operatively connected to one of said members, an arm pivoted to said lever, means for rocking said arm, a device movable from and to a position to cause rocking of said arm to rock said lever, andmeans .for adjusting the fulcrum of said lever to'determine the amplitude of motion of the member connected thereto. y

dln a sewing machine, sewing instru-n mentalities including aneedle bar mounted with capability of lateral movement, a lever operatively connected to said bar to edect such lateral movement when said lever is rocked, an arm pivoted to said lever, a cam for rocking said arm, and an element movable bet-Ween two positions in one of which the rocking of said arm acts to cause rocking movement of said lever, and in the other of which the rocking of` said arm is ineffective to move said lever.

7. Inia sewing machine, sewing instru-l mentalities includinga needle bar mounted with capability et lateral movement, a lever operatively connected to said bar to effect such lateral movement when said lever is rocked, an arm pivoted to said lever, a cam for rocking said arm, and an element movable between two. positions in one of which the rocking of said arm acts to cause rocking movement of said lever, and in the other of which the rocking of said arm is ineective to move said lever and said element acts to hold said lever stationary.

8. In a sewing machine, a frame, a needle bar carried at one end of said frame, a `cam adjacent to the opposite endof said frame, a lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point to said frame and having one end operatively connected to said needle bar, an arm pivoted to said lever and having a follower for said cam at one end and a notch at its opposite end, and a pin slidable on said lever into and out of position in said notch.

9. In a sewing machine, a frame, a needle bar carried at one end of said frame and movable laterally, a cam adjacent to the opposite end of said frame, a lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point within said frame and connected to said needle bar to impart by rocking movement about its fulcrum lateral movement to said needle bar, an arm pivoted to said lever and having a follower for said cam, and means accessible from without said frame operable at will to cause rocking of said arm to rock said lever orto permit said arm to vibrate about its pivotal connection to said lever freely whereby said cam is ineffective to move said lever.

l0. In a sewing machine, a frame, a needle bar carried at one end of'said frame and movable laterally, a cam adjacent to the opposite end of said frame, 'a lever fulcrum'ed at an intermediate oint within said frame and connected to said needle bar to impart by rocking movement about its fulcrum lateral movement to said needle bar, an arm pivoted to said lever and having a follower for said cam, and means accessible from without said frame operable at will to cause rocking of said arm to rock said lever or to permit said arm to vibrate about its pivotal connection to said lever freely whereby said cam is ineffective to move said lever, and to hold said lever against movement.

11. In a sewing machine, a frame, a needle bar carried by said frame and movable laterally, a cam, a lever fulcrumed in said frame at an intermediate point, one end of said lever being connected to said needle bar to impart by rocking movement about its fulcrum lateral movement to said needle bar, an arm pivoted to said lever adjacent to its opposite end and having a cam follower at one end cngageable with said cam, the opposite end of said arm having a notch therein, said lever having a slot therein longitudinally thereof and having a widened portion registering with said notch, a slide carried by said frame, a pin carried by said slide and extending through said slot and of substantially the diameter of the narrow part thereof, said pin being movable on movement of said slide between a position in the narrower part of said slot where it holds said lever against rocking about its fulcrum, and a position in the wider part of said slot permitting rockin' of said lever and in said notch to provi e a fixed fulcrum at the end of said arm, whereby rocking of said arm by said cam moves its fulcrum on said lever bodily thereby rocking said lever.

12. In a sewing machine, a frame, a needle bar carried by said frame and movable laterally, a cam, a lever having a slot longitudinally thereof and connected at one end to said needle bar, a block slidably carried by said frame and having a pin riding inI said slot to form a fulcrum for said lever adjustable lengthwise thereof, an arm pivoted to the opposite end of said lever, a cam follower` at one end of said arm in operative engagement with said cam, the o posite end of said arm having a notcho the width of the main portion of said slot, said slot having a widened ortion adjacent to said notch, a second slide carried by said frame, and an element carried by said second slide and movable on the sliding thereof between a position riding in the main portion of said slot and out of engagement with said arm, thus preventing rocking of said lever, and a position in the widened portion of said slot and in said notch to form a xed fulcrum for said arm whereby rocking of said arm causes rocking of saidlever. c d In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. l

ROBERT L. LYON S. 

